When Maharishi Mahesh Yogi first started his teaching in the late 1950s, even the concept of Transcendental Consciousness was absent from scientific circles. But the appearance of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation program made it possible for scientists to investigate this profound state of inner peace—in which the human mind directly experiences the unified field of natural law.

Large number of subjects: First, scientists needed a ready source of meditation experts available for study. While meditators were next to nonexistent in the West when Maharishi began teaching, the numbers of people practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique grew rapidly; by now millions of people worldwide have learned the practice (two million of those in America) and more than 100,000 have learned the advanced TM-Sidhi program.

Uniform instructions: Both the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs are taught through systematic procedures followed precisely worldwide—allowing researchers to avail themselves of a subject population meditating according to uniform instructions.

Wide range of subject types: In addition, researchers dislike studies that are biased due to a narrow range of subject types. With the Transcendental Meditation technique, subjects are available from every age, religion and walk of life. There are several reasons for this. First, the Transcendental Meditation technique is easy to learn and effortless to practice, requiring no effort or concentration; even children from the age of ten can easily learn. In addition, there are no necessary levels of intelligence or educational attainment, and no need for any particular set of religious or philosophical beliefs—allowing researchers to easily find a wide range of subject types, from students to senior citizens.

Naturalness at the basis: The Transcendental Meditation technique contrasts with other techniques of relaxation or meditation. Rather than keeping the mind active (attending to thoughts, for example), the Transcendental Meditation technique allows the mind to settle down completely and transcend thoughts—attaining a state of silence and inner peace. Rather than forcing the mind to be quiet through concentration—which takes constant effort and actually keeps the mind active—it allows the mind to settle down spontaneously, of its own accord. Once the process of transcending has begun, the mind moves naturally inward, toward its own most fundamental level of intelligence, the unified field of natural law. It does so motivated by its natural tendency to seek experiences more charming and fulfilling—because no other experience is so completely satisfying. Half a century ago, meditation was considered difficult and impractical. By now hundreds of studies have demonstrated that the natural, effortless approach of the Transcendental Meditation technique does indeed produce the experience of Transcendental Consciousness, with all its attendant benefits.

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“Transcendental Consciousness is now no more a fantasy or only a metaphysical reality. Now we have it on the objective basis of modern science. The Transcendental Meditation technique produces its own style of physiological activity, and due to that the mind experiences a state of least excitation, the fourth state of consciousness. This is why we are fortunate to live in an age of science.”